MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A curfew for your kids — that’s what the Memphis City Council and Police Department are currently discussing, with a vote that could come as soon as this week.
As city leaders continue to discuss ways to curb violent crime, one solution they have proposed is a curfew for young people 17 and younger.
For Memphis parents Jason and Tiffany Perry, imposing the curfew was just the beginning of tackling the crime problem.
“It’s not just crime that’s getting out of hand in Memphis, it’s been happening for a long time, so it’s kind of frustrating that the city council is just talking about enforcing something that’s already on the books,” Tiffany Perry said.
If passed, the resolution would require the Memphis Police Department to enforce curfews and penalties.
City ordinances state that children 16 and younger are not allowed in public spaces after 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The curfew is from Friday to Sunday at 11pm.
For 17-year-olds, the curfew begins at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and midnight on weekends.
Priest. That’s not the answer, said Earl Fisher, senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church.
“The idea that imposing a curfew in some way somehow absolves us of other responsibilities to help reduce crime seems a little misleading at best,” Fisher said.
Fisher said he feared that would defeat the purpose of deterring young people from crime.
In fact, he said, there could be consequences.
“My concern is that this leads to disproportionate exposure between law enforcement officers and people who are younger or look younger. “How do you know if a person is 17, 19 or 24? “He says.
The resolution will be discussed at a City Council committee meeting on Tuesday.
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